Animation Success at Royal Television Society Awards
13th March 2007
An animated tale of a schoolboy’s lust for his female teacher has triumphed in the Royal Television Society Awards gaining Directors David Gray and Bjorn-Erik Aschim, from the Arts Institute at Bournemouth the 2007 Regional Student Animation Award for their film ‘Confessions of a Schoolboy’.
David and
Bjorn-Erik made the animation in their final year on the BA (Hons)
Animation Production course at the Institute. The film highlights
an embarrassing problem many young men may find upon entering
adolescence, which is exasperated by a rather buxom school
teacher.
The animation course at the Institute is accredited by Skillset, the Sector Skills Council for the Audio Visual Industries, as offering the best skills and education which ensures graduates from the course receive a swift transition into the animation industry.
‘Confessions of a
Schoolboy’ took a year to make in the final year of the course, and
included music composed by renowned composer Stephen Deutsch. And
both Directors have already assimilated themselves into their
working lives, with David working at King Rollo Films in Honiton,
and Bjorn-Erik working at Django Films in Edinburgh on Sylvain
Chomet’s next animated feature. They both credit the animation
course at the Institute as vital in their pathway to a successful
career, as David commented, “My experience on the course was
fantastic – it really was the best three years of my life. The
emphasis on drawing and art is really what sets the course apart,
learning animation though traditional drawing methods gives us a
greater appreciation and understanding of the art form and the
working atmosphere in the studio is incredibly enthusiastic and
cooperative - everyone works together to improve and better
themselves - and the tutors are very supportive and inspiring.”
Bjorn-Erik commented “There are several graduates from the Institute working at Django Films, it’s like a small Institute community and is a really fantastic experience coming straight out of education – the course must be doing something right!”
Two other graduate films received nominations at the Awards Ceremony; ‘Perplexus’ and ‘Like Father, Like Son’. A graduate from the BA (Hons) Film Production course also received a nomination in the film category for his film ‘Ratfink’
In addition, another student animation by 2006 graduate Antoine Quairiat entitled ‘Bedroom Jam’ took second prize in the student category at Animated Exeter International Festival in February. Selection judge Derek Hayes, an Animation Director commented “I've just been judging the Animated Exeter Emerging Talent competition...and I just thought I'd let you know how impressed I was by the standard of the Bournemouth entries...the strongest selection of work in the contest and I was mightily impressed.”
Professor Peter Parr, Course Leader on the BA (Hons) Animation Production course commented, “We have a number of extremely talented students at the Institute, who continue to push the boundaries of their creativity, producing innovative and eye-catching work. These awards are a fantastic achievement and a great testament to their work.”